Lionel's Highlights From the 2013 Fall York Meet

The TCA Eastern Division's York Meet is one of the year's most spectacular events for model railroaders and manufacturers alike. We certainly enjoyed our time there last week, and managed to see all the latest news and reveals coming from Lionel's impressive booth. 

If you couldn't make it out to the show or just want a recap of the great new products Lionel revealed this week, take a look at their recap below. It sure includes some big news and incredible trains!

News From York

This past week marked the 44th annual fall gathering for the TCA Eastern Division’s “York Meet.” Twice a year we and other manufacturers debut some of our new products at these events and this fall Lionel had several big announcements to make. So if you didn’t make it to York, or if you just didn’t get enough of the new stuff, here are our highlights:

Vision Big Boy

For those who have been waiting and wondering if there would be any more ground-breaking Vision Line products, as you can see we’ve been working on something BIG! Our new Vision Line Big Boy will be featured in the 2014 Signature Catalog but you can get a sneak peek right now. Like other Vision Line engines, this model brings never-before-seen features to the market.

For the Big Boy this includes a special dual-smoke stack which will mimic the dual chuffs from the Big Boy’s paired driver sets. In addition to the twin smoke units for the stack, the Big Boy also features whistle steam and a blowdown effect. That’s four smoke units in one boiler!

Also new on the Big Boy, an amazing depleting coal load effect. As the engine runs, the coal load slowly drops into the center of the tender just like the prototype. Even better, this effect is controlled through the LEGACY system and the speed of the coal depletion is based on how hard the engine is working. It may take 15 minutes – it may take 45 – it all depends on how hard you run your engine. You can keep tabs on the coal and water with the new sensor tracks as well. When the coal gets low, simply refill it. You’ll hear the sound of coal dropping into the tender as the load slowly piles back up.

Speaking of sounds, the Big Boy will have three speakers; two in the tender and one in the boiler. This will provide the most realistic sound quality and placement possible on the locomotive.

There will be many more features on these engines of course. Look for more details in the 2014 Signature Catalog and future updates here on our blog!

LionChief Plus Locomotives

While we know you all love to see how we’ll push the envelope with our new VISION features, we also recognize that the cost of this technology is more than many can spend to enjoy this hobby. Our new LionChief Plus locomotives offer exciting new technology at a much lower price point.

As the name implies, these locomotives use the LionChief Remote control system you’ve seen on our new Ready-to-Run sets, but with additional features. Just like the remote sets, these locomotives can be operated using the included remote control on any layout, whether it is powered by a wall-pack, conventional transformer, TMCC or LEGACY. Now with the flip of a switch, you can control the engine with your conventional transformer like any other conventional engine as well.

In addition to the conventional control option, these locomotives feature fan-driven smoke, amazing sound and a working electro-coupler! (The electro-coupler feature is only available when using the LionChief Remote control at this time.) We introduced five new models at York with prototypes on hand. These include the semi-scale Mikado, Hudson and Pacific and an RS-3 and GP-7. Each locomotive will be available in several roadnames and like the sets, each engine will have its own radio frequency so you can run multiple locomotives on the same track without interference.

Look for more information on this exciting new product as we get closer to release in 2014.

LCS Sensor Track and LCS Control System

With our display layout now updated with the new sensor tracks and the new LCS control modules, we also demonstrated the exciting possibilities soon to be available with both of these new technologies.

The Sensor Track will work with your LEGACY locomotives to activate a wide variety of features on the engine or on the layout. You can use the sensor track to report back fuel levels on the locomotive, automatically blow the whistle or horn, stop the train and many many more functions. There are 8 pre-programmed actions and you can even create your own for a virtually unlimited variety.

The Sensor Track is just one part of the inclusive Layout Control System that you can use to put all of the features of the layout at your fingertips. LCS is completely customizable to your needs. There are modules to control switches, accessories and power blocks. These modules will allow you to control your entire layout from not only your LEGACY cab but also up to 15 wireless devices with the addition of the optional Wi-Fi module.

We know there is a lot to take in and think about with LCS, so we’ll present more detailed features on all of the components here on the blog in the near future. For more information right now, check out our lcs site.

As exciting as the new trains are, they barely compare to the great Sensor Track features being shown off in the diagram above. It truly puts an unparalleled level of control right at your fingertips, and will make for some of the most dynamic and compelling layouts we've ever seen from Lionel railroaders.

And then there's the Vision Line Big Boy. It is a super train. Not only is it one of the biggest and most visually stunning model trains ever, it's also going to be loaded with tons of never-before-seen features. I love the "living" coal load that matches the engine's effort as it physically depletes. The four smoke units are impressive, and the pair of speakers will create an amazing level of sound quality and detail. This is an amazing piece.

These weren't the only reveals Lionel had at the show, but they were definitely the most exciting. We'll return with updates on even more trains to show off in our next recap of Lionel at the Fall 2013 York Meet. 

Lionel Spotlights Major League Baseball Boxcars

Summertime is all about baseball, and baseball fans who have a love for the rails will enjoy this spotlight on Lionel's newest Major League Baseball boxcars. 

Combining two hobbies is always a lot of fun. Being able to express your baseball fandom while running your trains is about as much fun as it can get! So take a look at Lionel's latest spotlight below, in which every Major League Baseball team has a special new car to show off their colors on the diamond and the rails! 

New Product Spotlight – Major League Baseball Boxcars

Tomorrow the game’s best will battle it out in the annual MLB™ All-Star Game™. Lionel’s newest licensed Major League Baseball™ trains will be a home run on your layout too!

New for 2014, Lionel is introducing boxcars decorated in official Club logos for every team in the American League and National League. Whether you collect the entire series or just your hometown heroes, these colorful cars are going to look great in any train or baseball collection. Best of all, as befits cars that salute our national pastime, each of these cars is printed and assembled here in the USA from domestic and imported parts.

The new cars feature:

• Made in America from domestic and imported parts
• Cast metal sprung trucks and operating couplers
• Opening doors
• Metal frame and brake wheel
• Minimum Curve: O-27

For illustrations of every team’s car, see our 2014 Ready to Run catalog online or at your local Lionel dealer. These cars retail for $ 69.99 each.

American League Teams

• 6-81912 New York Yankees™
• Rays
• 6-81937 Tampa Bay Rays
• 6-81914 Oakland Athletics™
• 6-81916 Boston Red Sox™
• 6-81920 Detroit Tigers™
• 6-81922 Baltimore Orioles™
• 6-81923 Minnesota Twins™
• 6-81924 Chicago White Sox™
• 6-81927 Cleveland Indians™
• 6-81929 Toronto Blue Jays™
• 6-81931 Angels™
• 6-81933 Texas Rangers™
• 6-81937 Tampa Bay Rays™
• 6-81938 Seattle Mariners™
• 6-81942 Kansas City Royals™

National League Teams

• 6-81913 St. Louis Cardinals™
• 6-81915 San Francisco Giants™
• 6-81917 Los Angeles Dodgers™
• Mets
• 6-81928 New York Mets
• 6-81918 Cincinnati Reds™
• 6-81919 Pittsburgh Pirates™
• 6-81921 Atlanta Braves™
• 6-81925 Chicago Cubs™
• 6-81926 Philadelphia Phillies™
• 6-81928 New York Mets™
• 6-81930 Miami Marlins™
• 6-81932 San Diego Padres™
• 6-81934 Milwaukee Brewers™
• 6-81935 Houston Astros™
• 6-81936 Colorado Rockies™
• 6-81939 Washington Nationals™
• 6-81940 Arizona Diamondbacks™

Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. 

 

If you're a baseball fan and a railroader, it just doesn't get much better than this. Not only do these cars feature all our favorite teams, the designs are individualized and incredibly well done. The color schemes are perfect, the logos are crisp and clear, and the unique features like the pin-striping on certain teams' cars makes them really stand out. Because each car looks so unique, big-time baseball fans might even want to grab the entire selection!  

You can find the above cars and more baseball-themed trains on the DASH Marketplace. Just search for the name of your favorite team, and you're sure to find what you're looking for. I for one have my eyes on the St. Louis Cardinals cars! 

Big at the Boxcar Office: Citizen Train

Some layouts just have a magical, wonderful quality to them that can't be explained. They rank as some of the world's absolute best, and today's featured layout is one such example. It earns its spot at the "box office" because it's quite simply one of the best layouts ever made. 

This unbelievable layout is practically endless in size, but somehow still filled with loads of miniscule details, allowing you to pour over it for countless hours and still find something new to love. It's perfect in every way (as far as I can tell), making it an utter classic much like Citizen Kane. Much like the film is one of the greatest movies ever, this might just be one of the greatest model train layouts of all time too. 

Citizen Train

Not only do I love the sights and sounds provided by this video, but the commentary describing its construction was just as wonderful. Hearing Mr. Lash discuss his early experiences with trains really brought the passion and love in this layout to life. You can tell that this lifelong railroader will adore this masterpiece and run its trains as long as he's able, and that's exactly the kind of love that makes railroading such a special hobby.  

This was undoubtedly a wonderful layout video, but we're always on the lookout for additional great videos. If you have one of your own that you'd like to share, please take a minute to drop it on your Collection Showcase page. It might not be as stunning as this one, but we'll still enjoy it. You're also welcome to share a link to your favorite layout video online, and we might just feature it right here in next edition of Big at the Boxcar Office!

Inside Look at Lionel's Pennsylvania GLa Hoppers

Lionel has a new product spotlight this week, and this time it provides an unprecedented inside look into the design and manufacturing process behind the great trains they put out. 

The Pennsylvania GLa Hopper is an iconic car that spawned countless other similar cars that are pervasive throughout the early history of the rails in the United States. Lionel is releasing a new product to honor this classic car, and they've provided an inside look at the three-dimensional design specs that will leave you in awe. Keep reading for all the details and photos from Lionel. 

New Product Spotlight – Pennsylvania GLa Hoppers

The Pennsylvania Railroad owned an impressive roster of more than 30,000 GLa class hoppers which served from the 1900s into the Penn Central years. As if the PRR’s own roster wasn’t impressive enough, the car was copied directly by several other companies and became the inspiration for several other popular hopper designs which blanketed the United States in the first half of the 20th Century. We’ll cover the interesting prototype history of these cars later this week and in subsequent Freight Car Friday posts. Today, let’s look at Lionel’s upcoming model of this car – one we think will be as popular as its prototype!

Capturing the Variety

These new hoppers will be the most detailed Lionel has ever produced. Starting with all new tooling, we’ve planned ahead so that we can not only capture the PRR’s GLa accurately, but also capture the key detail changes found in many of the cars which built off of this design.

Lionel’s design team worked from Pennsylvania Railroad drawings to create an accurate GLa. From the overall dimensions, to the distinctive boxy end sills, to proper 2D-F8 truck sideframes, this car will be PRR through and through.

In 1905, builders began producing cars of similar design for other companies. Compare this plan with the GLa to see the detail differences. This view also shows how the cars will look if you install scale couplers.
When several car builders began building near-duplicates of the GLa in 1905, a car which has subsequently been dubbed the “1905 Common Design” by historians, the overall dimensions remained very close to the GLa, but there were several structural differences to be found – especially on the ends of the cars. By the time these designs had evolved into the USRA’s standard two-bay hopper in 1918, again dimensions were within a few inches of the GLa with more minor detail changes around the ends and hoppers.

Lionel is tooling these models so that the later car designs, using the GLa body, can have other details which more closely capture the look of the cars on these other roads. This will include the end sills, end posts, hand brake and grab iron arrangements and hopper door mechanisms.

Scale Improvements

The underframes have been designed for easy application of a standard scale coupler box.
In addition to the overall high level of detail on these cars, which will even include cross braces and rivet details on the interior of the car, Lionel is adding some new design features to these cars which will make them much friendlier to the 2-rail and 3-rail scale crowd.

Although the cars will come equipped with our standard operating couplers, mounting pads will be provided on the metal underframe of the car so that scale couplers can be easily added by the modeler if desired. No extensive body modification or even drilling new holes required!

We’ve also addressed another little detail that is sure to please many of the prototype-focused modelers; the “Built by Lionel” date stencil has been moved to the underside of the car. It’s still there for the collectors, but won’t detract from the rest of the graphics which have all been carefully researched from prototype photos.

We’re quite proud of these new cars, and think you’ll agree they are some of the finest scale models we’ve produced. Other features include:

PRR and other GLa version cars will feature correct PRR 2D-F8 truck sideframes.

• Die-cast metal sprung trucks and operating couplers with hidden uncoupling tabs. PRR GLa cars will have appropriate PRR truck sideframes.
• Plastic carbody and die-cast metal underframe
• High level of separately applied detail parts including many road-name specific variations
• Opening hopper doors
• Removable plastic coal load insert
• Molded pads for easy conversion to scale couplers
• Individual road numbers on each car in multi-car packs
• O31 Minimum curve

The new GLa hoppers will be available as part of the Pennsy M1a Coal Hauler set (three PRR and one Berwind White Coal) as well as for separate sale in the following road names and quantities:

• 6-81686 PRR (circle keystone scheme) 3-Pack GLa version
• 6-81858 PRR (shadow keystone scheme) 3-Pack GLa version
• 6-81793 Berwind White 3-Pack GLa version
• 6-81687 Lehigh Valley 2-Pack USRA version
• 6-81688 CB&Q 2-Pack USRA version
• 6-81689 C&O 3-Pack USRA version
• 6-81789 New Haven 2-Pack GLa version
• 6-81824 P&WV 2-Pack 1905 Common Design version

Suggested retail price on the 2-Pack cars is $ 145.99. 3-Packs retail for $ 219.99.

The above images are absolutely fantastic! They show every single tiny detail that these cars have managed to capture, and I keep finding great little details with every new look. You can see how much thought and planning go into a rather "basic" model, and it makes you appreciate all the impressive products that make up our collections even more. 

You can keep an eye out for these specific upcoming cars and other great new products from Lionel on the DASH Marketplace. If you're like me, this inside look has made them even cooler in your eyes than you could have imagined. 

News From the Lionel Showroom at the Fall 2013 York Meet

Lionel revealed some big upcoming products at York last week, but they also put together an impressive array of upcoming trains in their booth at the show. We've got a closer look at the awesome trains that made the trip.  

The only thing more enjoyable than seeing the latest and greatest trains in a booth at a show is to see them on your layout at home. If you couldn't make it to the TCA Eastern Division's York Meet last week, we've got you covered. Here's a look at Lionel's incredible lineup of new trains that made it to the show. 

More News from York

Yesterday we showed previews of some of the major new releases coming in 2014 debuted last week in York. Of course there were lots of other products on display as well. Here are some of the highlights.

Weathered Locomotives

Samples of the UP 9000, PRR and B&O weathered sharks, all featured in the 2013 Fall Catalog, were all on display. Each weathered model will be hand-weathered by artist Harry Heike – a beautiful and personal touch to make your models unique. The extra touch of weathering really brings out the details on the models.

Norfolk Southern Heritage

Preproduction samples of all 10 shells for the Heritage SD70ACE and three of the ES44AC O Gauge locomotives were on display as well as many of the American Flyer versions as well.

Christmas

From the new Polar Express Streamlined Passenger set to our new home-decor items, Christmas came early in York. (Even Santa showed up!)

American Flyer

In addition to the new Heritage locomotives, there were several other American Flyer cars shown was well, including the new mint car.

Traditional

Samples of many of our LionChief Remote sets ran the days away on our display towers. There were plenty of other traditional locomotives, sets and cars to see as well.

What a great assortment of new trains! I'm impressed by almost everything that was put on display, but a few things really stood out for me. First off are the new weathered locomotives. They feature some of the most realistic and gorgeous weathering I've ever seen right out of the box! Because each piece will be hand-weathered by an artist with a personal touch, you're getting a supremely unique and beautiful new train if you grab one of these engines. 

The Heritage Series locomotives look as good as always. I'll never tire of seeing the charming gold and green of the Bee Line Service brought back to life, so I was glad it made an appearance at the meet. The American Flyer Fort Knox mint car is absolutely stunning, if a little over the top. The Polar Express colors look particularly sharp pictured above, and it's the perfect time to start preparing for Christmas. 

When it comes to the more standard items on display, it's obvious that Lionel is continually improving when it comes to detail and quality. The L&N 2 Bay Hopper above looks rich and realistic, while the CNW F7 is painted wonderfully and layered in its details and textures. I'm a huge Where the Wild Things Are fan, so I may have to add that particular car to my collection. 

It was another great year at York, and this was another impressive selection of new products from Lionel. Keep your eyes out for all of these great pieces on the DASH Marketplace in the coming months, and be sure to swing by York next time around to see them all for yourself. 

Railway Robbery: Magazines and Mega Collections

Everytime I talk about the high cost of our hobby to a non-railroader, I get stunned looks and dropped jaws. Model railroading is certainly not cheap, but sometimes even devout railroaders can be shocked by the excessive prices expected for some high-end items. These kinds of exorbitant prices start to look like "Railway Robbery!"

I've found five of the most ridiculous high-dollar train-related items available on eBay right now. I won't go so far as to say that these items are overpriced, but there's no question that they're some of the most expensive train collectibles out there. In fact, these auctions might just leave your jaw on the floor after you see their prices! Welcome to another edition of Railway Robbery. 

5. Model railroader magazine from 1939

Price: $ 10,500

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Although this run of magazines is undoubtedly a piece of history, one could get an awful lot of "holy grail" trains for this hefty price tag. It may capture 60 years in one of railroading's greatest publications, but you could capture quite a few historical trains for $ 10,000 too.    

4. Lionel Smithsonian “O” scale New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson 13 car set #5451

Price: $ 12,000

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Trains don't get much sharper than this set. It's a gorgeous arrangement, and looks perfect in the display case included in the auction. But $ 12,000 is enough to amass an army of modern day trains and source an entire layout, so I can't imagine this set is worth it to the average collector.   

3. Little Engines Atlantic 4 4 2 live steam train wt caboose 2 cars 1 inch detroit

Price: $ 12,000

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This is a stunning old train with loads of history, but its five-digit price is just too rich for most railroaders' blood. Everyone I know would love to have it on their shelf, but no one I know would be willing to pay this much for it.

2. American Flyer Standard Gauge 4689 Enameled Presidents Special Set Original Box

Price: $ 12,500

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This is another stunning set of classic trains. I would shovel coal for a year just to have the beautiful boxes included in this listing. Of course you could buy a car for the cost of this set. A real car! And that might  be considered more practical in your children's eyes!

1. HO Huge Model Railroad, 4000' of Track, Thousands of Cars & Power

Price: $ 130,000

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But why buy a car when you could buy a house for the cost this collection. A nice house! At $ 130,000, this is the most expensive model train listing I've ever seen on eBay. It includes thousands of trains and almost a mile of track. Who wants to start a new HO collection would you could complete a lifetime worth of collecting with a single mouse click? 

I don't foresee many of these listings being successfully closed in the near future, but they are a lot of fun to look at from afar. Whether you can afford these trains or not, be careful on your travels outside of the DASH Marketplace. You never know when you might be the next person to fall victim to Railway Robbery!

Big at the Boxcar Office: City of Trains

It's not easy to build a beautiful inner-city layout, and that's one reason few modelers take up the challenge. But I found a layout which takes up that challenged and exceeds it in every way, earning itself the "box office" treatment today.

There's nothing I love more than a good inner-city layout. I live in a major midwestern city with a long railroad history, surrounded by skyscrapers and rustic brownstones, hearing the whistles go by my office window. There's nothing quite like the gritty city life of a train, and this layout has captured it wonderfully. Much like the squalid adolescence portrayed in the movie City of God, this incredible layout takes us on a track through grungy city streets. 

City of Trains

It's amazing how much detail, life, and texture are squeezed into this relatively small layout. And by texture, I mean the texture and grit and feeling of real city life. The sights and sounds get everything perfect, and I almost wonder if the fellow behind this layout doesn't have a hot dog cart nearby to nail the smells as well. With this layout, you feel as if you're dropped straight into a tired old city that grew alongside its once-bustling railroads. The buildings are impeccably detailed, the trains are gorgeous, and the overall effect is simply breathtaking. 

As much fun as countryside layouts can be, this is truly a one-of-a-kind piece. We've love to see your city (or country) layout on your very own Collection Showcase page too! But even if you aren't ready to show off just yet, please share some of your favorite layout videos from around the web. We'd love to showcase them in the next edition of Big at the Boxcar Office!

Lionel Spotlights Polar Express Streamliner Passenger Set

Winter is almost here, and Lionel is ready to roll into the season with a wonderful set of trains celebrating the snow, the cold, and the upcoming holiday season. 

Few trains are as famous as the storied Polar Express, and Lionel is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the now-classic movie by releasing an assortment of new trains. You won't find a more iconic or recognizable railroad to add to your collection or winter wonderland layout this year. Keep reading for all the details and product photos straight from Lionel below. 

New Product Spotlight – Polar Express Streamliner Passenger Set

In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of The Polar Express™ movie, Lionel is releasing several new trains and accessories in our Polar Express™ line. There is nothing more nostalgic than a classic steam-powered passenger train, but Santa appreciates a good streamliner too! The new diesel powered streamlined Polar Express™ will be the perfect complement to your roster.

This new transformer controlled set includes an FT diesel, two coaches and an observation car, 40″x60″ oval of FasTrack and transformer.

The locomotive features:

• Transformer controlled forward, neutral, and reverse operation
• RailSounds RTR sound system with diesel horn, bell, and user-activated crew dialog scenarios
• Operating headlight
• Operating coupler on both ends
• Dual powerful maintenance-free motors
• Die-cast metal trucks and pilot
• Metal frame
• Lighted cab interior
• Engineer and conductor figures
• Special 10th Anniversary marking on locomotive

Passenger cars feature:

• Die-cast metal trucks and operating couplers
• Detailed interiors
• Flexible diaphragms at coupler ends
• Opening doors
• Interior illumination
• Special 10th Anniversary marking on the end of each passenger car
• Length: 13″ each car
• An additional two-car add-on pack is also available and includes a baggage and dining car. It retails for $ 149.99.

The new streamliner set retails for $ 469.99. Whether you are just starting or expanding your Polar Express™ railroad, this train will be a hit with your northbound passengers this year!

I can't imagine a much more appealing color pattern on a train. The rich red and blue are perfect together, and make this train look wonderful whether rolling through the snow or around your Christmas tree. It might not be the classic steam engine we know and love, but the colors and the name and the story still come across beautifully in this streamliner. It looks good and comes with loads of features, so it might just be the ultimate model train gift this holiday season. 

If you'd like to expand your Polar Express collection, keep an eye out for this train and others on the DASH Marketplace. You're already running out of time to finish up your holiday shopping!

20 Unforgettable Photographs of Trains

There's nothing quite like a beautiful train rolling through an idyllic landscape, whether it be in your very own layout or somewhere far outside your door. Sometimes these stunning moments are captured in time and shared with the world as unbelievable images. We have 20 train pictures you'll never forget.  

These photos all have something about them that's dramatic, unique, engaging, or downright beautiful, and that's why they've been selected as my most unforgettable train photographs. If you thought you couldn't love trains any more, you'll be surprised after making your way through these amazing images. 

We'd love to hear which of the above photos you found the most striking, the most gorgeous, and the most unforgettable. And if you have a favorite picture of your own, please share it with a link in the comments. We'll save it up for future photographic explorations through the wonderful world of trains!